Can IoT solutions save the ageing healthcare system?

The NHS is struggling with an ageing population and an ageing system and, unless big changes take place soon, our precious healthcare system could collapse.

At the moment, one of the main problems with our healthcare is legacy systems, siloed data, outdated systems and no connection between healthcare organisations. We need to sit down and look at our current system, see what’s lacking and where we have shortfalls and how new technology can be brought in to bring the NHS into a new digital age.

Technology

In today’s world of technology, the popular fad is wearing activity bands and fitness trackers, which monitor our daily activity. The NHS is looking to use similar wearables to collect data which will be sent back to your doctor. The Internet of Things (IoT) is slowly introducing telemedicine. Remote healthcare and the wearables are just a part of a new study being developed by IoT solutions.

Two trials in operation at the moment are with people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Wearable sensors will enable self-management and more timely intervention from healthcare professionals. The second is with individuals with dementia. They and their carers will wear sensors which will monitor their health at home. This will empower them to take more control over their health and wellbeing and enable health workers to be more responsive and deliver a better service.

Remote monitoring

IoT solutions and companies to help with FDA 510K, like http://www.fdathirdpartyreview.com/, will enable the NHS to move towards preventative healthcare with sensors and connected devices monitoring, detecting and preventing disease and illness. Hospitals and GPs can process this data allowing more patients to be treated at home through remote monitoring, thus reducing pressure on GPs and hospitals. The system can also be used in hospitals to monitor empty beds and help overworked A&E departments from having patients waiting on trolleys.

This process could help people live less dependently on the existing medical infrastructure, but the cost will be enormous. Effectively, we need to rebuild the entire network to replace existing IT systems, but this is not going to happen overnight. Patience is a virtue and Rome wasn’t built in a day, we need to implement changes slowly, cutting costs, being more efficient and providing a healthcare service we can all be proud of in the future.